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Chief Wansum Tail Seeks Pocahottie: Yes, It's Halloween Again

ICTMN Staff

10/24/13

Sorry ladies, but we're calling Halloween 2013 a win for the boys.

Because Halloween in Indian country is always a horrorshow of snide stereotypes peddled to mainstream America as harmelss costumes. Usually -- like, almost always -- the stereotype is the playful "Native American women are sluts." Oh, so fun. But this year we're struck by the men in the Dreamgirl "Restless Wranglers"collection of Halloween costumes: Chief Wansum Tail and Chief Big Wood.

Really? Chief Wansum Tail is OK? Because we wonder whether the same company would dare market an African-American themed costume (we don't claim to know what it would look like) with the name "Big [anything sexual] Jones." And lest we neglect the American Indian women unjustly characterized as "Pocahotties," let's also wonder whether Dreamgirl could put out an Asian-themed costume called "Little Miss [anything sexual] Geisha."

Here's the complete collection of Native-themed costumes from Dreamgirls -- and yes, we're aware that most of them were available last year, if not earlier. No points for longevity. Dreamgirl has a Facebook page.

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Interesting. I remember reading in Andrea Smith's conquest book about the sexulization of native women being a tool of conquest since the colonist first came over into the America's. The women were stereotyped to be wild sexual savages and that was the justification for them to be "impure" and "rapable". White women would perpetuate the stereotype whenever they felt like taking on the new costume to construct the identity of being wild and exotic. On the other hand, native men were known for never committing sexual violence against women. White women who were captured even wrote about how they were surprised they didnt get raped by tribes and even wanted to join the indians because they were treated so well. The whites didnt like like that of course. So instead they started sending disinformation like claiming that native men were the ones who raped women and they would make up stories to push their claims. Andrea explained how this attitude still persist today with white mail rapist who claimed that they were native, later only to find that they weren't native at all. Its almost become a rite of passage or a subconscious control mechanism to associate native women as rapable and native men as noble savage rapist. We see in these costumes they perpetuate the same idea. "cheif wansum tail" implies that native males are just out to get some by any means possible.

The main reason Native Americans are so hate drivin is because your culture wont forgive what your forefathers done. And yes many natives are mostly white now a days. Very little native in them. And the blood line of whites live in those people too. So they carry the blood of those white men who persecuted the native way back. What I'm sayin is . Stop picking on the whiteman and lean forgiveness. Truth being. I LIKE THIS COUNTRY WAY BETTER THAN IF SOME NATIVE'S RAN THIS COUNTRY. I know of a few tribes and almost everyone are in a position to run this country. Natives can only take care of their own family and cattle. Basically if we put you in charge we'd collapse as a nation.

We need a Native-owned company to make Halloween costumes. I've got a few ideas to reflect our version of White culture. How about "The Asshole Accountant?" Maybe the Keystone Pipe Layer, or how about a Washington Rednecks fan? I know, "The Racist Cop" or "Opportunist Liquor Store Owner," or maybe the "Idiot Scout Master (rock formations not included)?"
This article makes the most valid point of all the arguing I've seen about racism. WHY is it okay to mock Native Americans, but NOT any other ethnicity? Oh yeah, it's because multi-million dollar sports racism makes it appear okay (or that Natives don't mind because we're "being honored").

really anonymous? The country would collapse? How ignorant can you be? Forgive the white man huh? Well considering the white man is still committing acts of genocide against the native people, it's kinda hard to forgive. And back to the whole economy collapsing thing, what is it doing now? Native economy didn't collapse due to greed at any point. 90% of the native population was wiped out by disease before Europeans (besides the Vikings) even saw them. You really need to educate yourself before going on a rant about how "primitive" the native people are. Seriously read a book sometime. As far as the costume thing, it's disgusting. I don't see Chingy Chow the Railroad worker, or Tyrone Jones the Watermelon Farmhand costumes or anything like that. So yeah Natives have a right to be angry about the misrepresentation and stereotypes sold as their culture as halloween costumes. They need to make a Billy Joe Bob the Budweiser guzzling Honkie costume.

Danielle...I am taking a course on American indian women from the university of Wyoming, and we are currently in andrea smith's book...it is the most horrifying account of what has happened/is happening to native women of this country...the only problem I have with it is that, once again, what happens to black women of this country is being used as a yardstick to measure atrocities against us...I don't see why this happens...native americans are sovereign peoples and have a whole set of problems that have absolutely nothing to do with black, Asian, Mexican, muslim, Chinese, Japanese, or any other racial group in this country...
anyway....the costumes are insulting....but this 'fascination/interpretation' of all things native American will continue as long as one of us is left to mock....smith also points out the reason that white people appropriate all things native is because they don't believe we have enough collective sense to 'maintain' our traditions, customs, music, etc...they also do it because none of the above is 'copyrighted', so they take it because they can....yes, im bitter...

You all look like shit and so very direspectful! Oh karma,karma,karma,karma yes what goes around comes back and kick you right smack in the ass!!!! Terrible terrible fashion who design this crap anyway!

I am Native America, Italian, and Irish, and all I have to say is PEOPLE ARE TOO EASILY OFFENDED!!!!! Since when did America give birth to such cry-baby whiners as the one who wrote this article? WHO CARES what people are wearing??? WHO CARES if it's offensive??? GROW UP!!!!! And for the idiot commenting about all of the "JOBS" of the "WHITE CULTURE" ... there are plenty of other cultures who work those jobs, you dumb ass!

"Anonymous" who said. "I like this country way better than if some natives ran this country" (gee I wonder why you're anonymous) Aside from your poor grammar you are obviously like most whites-fond of revisionist history. Until the US is honest about it's past, it has no hope for a future of ethical and honest actions. Capitalism and greed (manifest destiny) have destroyed this country- White people did that… not native Americans. Native Americans would never call themselves special or "God's chosen people"… White people do that. Native Americans would not treat other life with disrespect and a lack of grace…. White people do that. You can have your White leaders… I'll take anything but… thank you very much.

To Anonymous below: You want US to learn forgiveness? Can you even comperhend what this article is about? Native culture is disrespected at our every turn by you, from entertainment, to holidays to fricken sports we are made fun of, degraded and dehumanized at every turn, EVERY DAY and you want us to forgtive you? Why should we?

As an educated white mainstream person I find this company disgusting and I'm sure many other mainstream people would also. I'm sure not all white people see Native American men and women with this tasteless form of stereotype "Dreamgirl" is creating. No culture should be depicted in this manner and it would be nice if the "Dreamgirl" company could somehow be held accountable for their bad taste in Halloween costumes, really it would be nice if they could be closed down for being racist. I do believe the author uses a little stereotyping herself about mainstream America, but I don't believe her concerns are a form of whining at all, these costumes are really in bad taste. What a wonderful world this would be if all cultures could just respect one another. Not being educated about our cultures only breds ignorance, fear and stereotypes. This, like every other post, is just someone's opinion.